Side curtain airbag

ABSTRACT

An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is disclosed herein, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; a diffuser member disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is the main source of fluid flow into each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/190,499 filed Jul. 26, 2005 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a side impact or rollover inflatable curtain airbag and more specifically to apparatus and methods for deploying the same.

Various side impact or rollover airbags (also referred to as side curtains or curtain airbags) provide a cushion between a side of a vehicle and the occupant. Side curtain airbags generally deploy downward from a stowed position within the roofline of vehicle and inflate between the occupant and the vehicle interior side structure, such as the side windows and the A, B and/or C pillars.

A side curtain airbag generally consists of two fabric panels either sewn or interwoven together to create a plurality of inflatable cells. These cells are inflated during a predetermined activation event wherein a signal is provided to inflate the side curtain airbag. A side curtain may have a plurality of cells in various arrangements and/or configurations.

Typical airbag curtain designs have an “open flow” between chamber cells. Open flow as described herein is characterized by the gas or fluid within a cell having open fluid communication with adjacent cells via a diffuser tube and/or fluid paths disposed about the diffuser tube proximate to adjacent cells. This configuration allows the gas to uniformly fill the entire airbag because the gas distributes among all or most of the airbag cells or inflated regions. An example of an open flow conventional airbag is disclosed in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,743 to Tobe et al., the entire disclosure of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.

In some applications, it is desirable to provide a side impact or rollover restraint system having an inflatable curtain airbag that does not have “open flow” between chamber cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention there is provided an inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle. The inflatable cushion has at least a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas, wherein an internal passageway is formed in the first cushion section and the internal passageway fluidly couples each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells to an inflation gas via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells and a diffuser member is disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member is configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member covers each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material. Means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells is also provided.

In another exemplary embodiment, an airbag module for a vehicle is provided, the airbag module having a side curtain inflatable cushion and inflator. The inflatable cushion comprising a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; a diffuser member disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member covers each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells.

In still another exemplary embodiment, a method of inflating an inflatable cushion is provided, the method comprises at least the step of controlling the flow rate of an inflation gas into the inflatable cushion by limiting an amount of surface area between an exterior surface of a non-rigid fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of an internal passageway formed in the inflatable cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of a plurality of separate inflatable cells via an inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the inflatable cushion being formed from a first material and the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the inflatable cushion and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is located such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material, wherein the amount of surface area between the exterior surface of the non-rigid fabric diffuser member and the interior surface of the internal passageway is limited by applying a plurality of stitches through a first wall member and a second wall member of the inflatable cushion in order to secure the same together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle with an inflated side curtain airbag;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the airbag in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a side curtain airbag in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an inflatable cushion constructed in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C are partial views of inflatable cushions constructed in accordance alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a partial view of an inflatable cushion constructed in accordance an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a partial view of an inflatable cushion without portions of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 10-13C illustrate inflatable cushions constructed in accordance various alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is shown. Vehicle 10 includes an A-pillar 12, a B-pillar 14, and a C-pillar 16. A side curtain airbag 18 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and extends between A-pillar 12 and C-pillar 16. In FIG. 1, airbag 18 is shown in an inflated state. In this regard, an inflator 20 provides a gas necessary to inflate airbag 18. Inflators 20, 21 and 23 are shown in dashed lines to display alternative locations for the inflator. Thus, the inflator may be located in the B-pillar, in the C-pillar, in the roof, or in another suitable location within vehicle 10.

Before airbag 18 is deployed, it may be stored within roof rail 22 of vehicle 10. Optionally, tethers 24 and 26 may be used to restrain airbag 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, tethers 24 and 26 attach at one end to airbag 18 and at the other end to the body of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, further details of side curtain airbag 18 can be most easily explained. Airbag 18 includes a plurality of substantially isolated cells 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. Cells 28, 30, and 32 make up a rear bank of cells between B-pillar 14 and C-pillar 16, while cells 34, 26, 38, and 40 make up a front bank of cells between A-pillar 12 and B-pillar 14. Area 42 is not inflated because an occupant is less likely to come into contact with that area. In some embodiments, however, area 42 may be a cell, or may inflate at a time later than the other cells.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, tabs 44 are provided in this embodiment to attach airbag 18 to roof rail 22. Instead of tabs 44, any suitable method of attachment may be used. A delivery tube 46 having a plurality of outlet orifices 48 is also provided. In the illustrated embodiment, outlet orifices 48 are formed as scoops. Orifices 48 open to cells 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. To reduce turbulence within tube 46 and to better distribute the gas, outlet orifices 48 may be staggered about tube 48. Such staggering can be seen in FIG. 4. Delivery tube 46 is sealed at 50. Gas from inflator 20 enters delivery tube 46 at end 52 and is distributed into the cells through outlet orifices 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the mating of delivery tube 46 with airbag 18 can be described. In this embodiment, tube 46 is inserted into the top portion of airbag 18. A top perimeter seam 54 runs along the top of airbag 18 and forms an upper restraint for tube 46. A series of sewn ovals 56 are formed by stitching 57 (FIG. 3) between the cells. The tops of ovals 56 form a substantially tight fit with the bottom of tube 46. In this context, “tight” does not mean that no gas is able to flow between ovals 56 and tube 46. Instead, “tight” refers to a close-fit that may be optimized to allow some gas flow between adjacent cells. Along with continuous seam 58 and seams 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74, ovals 56 form cells 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. Any of the sewn seams may be single stitched, double stitched, or attached in another appropriate manner, depending on the strength and air-tightness requirements of the airbag. Airbag 18 has a thickness t (FIGS. 3 and 4), which may vary over the cells.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, outlet orifice 48, formed as a scoop, can be seen. The orientation of orifice 48 in FIG. 4 is somewhat staggered in that it is rotated at various angular positions around the tube periphery. The scoops preferably are rotated at various angular positions about tube 46 to better or more effectively capture and channel the gas flowing within the tube into the cell.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, airbag 76 is inflated by inflator 78, which is positioned in the B-pillar adjacent the center of deployed airbag 78. Inflator 78 connects with delivery tube 80 at an intermediate location along its length, in this case near the longitudinal center. In this configuration, both of ends 82 and 84 are sealed, forcing gas into each of cells 86, 88, 90, 92, and 94 upon inflation. Tethers 96 and 97 connect airbag 76 to the vehicle body. Depending on the vehicle or application, other configurations of the present invention may include embodiments with more than two banks of cells.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, it can be seen that a circle 98 is sewn into cell 88. A seam 100 connects circle 98 to seam 102, which forms part of the cell's perimeter. Seam 100 partially separates cell 88 and may be designed to reduce the volume and thickness of cell 88. As can be seen in FIG. 6, a reinforcing layer 104 is included on one side of airbag 76 at circle 98. Reinforcing layer 104 is another layer of fabric sized just larger than circle 98 in this embodiment, and is stitched together with the fabric forming airbag 76. Each of ovals 56 also include a reinforcing layer 106 sized just larger than the oval. In some 30 liter airbag embodiments, a reinforcing layer that is ½ inch larger at each edge than the stitching has been used. In still further embodiments, a reinforcing layer has been used on either side of the airbag, yielding a structure with four layers in the area being reinforced.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the construction of reinforcing layer 104 may be described in more detail. First layer 108 and second layer 110 form respective sides of airbag 76. Sewn circle 98 is formed by stitching 112, which extends through first layer 108, second layer 110, and reinforcing layer 104. The advantages of using reinforcing layer 104 will be discussed later. Note, however, that other configurations, including the use of multiple reinforcing layers on either or both sides of the airbag, are contemplated by the present invention.

The novel airbag disclosed herein is designed so the flow of gas between chamber cells is substantially reduced during the loading of the airbag. By creating a more reduced gas flow between the chamber cells during loading, the pressure within a given substantially isolated cell builds up greater than would otherwise occur with an open flow between the same cells. The increased pressure within the cell due to flow restriction or cross-cell flow restriction resists the occupant from striking through the cell to a greater extent than with conventional open flow between cells. With the gas restricted in its movement out of the cell, an increased resistance to occupant displacement or strike through is established. Therefore, the present invention provides airbags and methods of making airbags that restrict flow between chamber cells.

Because of the restricted flow between adjacent cells, the pressure delivery from the inflator to the cells may require a more precise design of the gas delivery system to provide each substantially isolated cell with its required operating pressure. For example, one such delivery method to achieve gas delivery to the individual cells may utilize an elongated tube (for example, delivery tube 46) extending within the upper portion of a side curtain airbag. The tube may be fabricated with the appropriate size, quantity, and location of outlet orifices to sufficiently deliver the appropriate amount of gas to each cell. Additionally, scoops configured to channel flow into a given cell may be utilized to further control the desired gas delivery. The scoops may be advantageous in areas of the delivery tube where the gas flowing in the tube tends to substantially pass by outlet orifices in the delivery tube due to the dynamics of the supersonic gas flow within the tube. When the tube has a scoop, which is essentially an indented section of the tube including an opening, the gas flowing within the tube is channeled into a particular cell.

The scoops may be staggered or staged along the delivery tube to achieve the required channeling of gas into each cell. For example, one cell may have two or more scoops but would preferably not have them directly “in-line” with each other along the longitudinal axis of the delivery tube. Instead, the scoops are preferably staggered to better or more effectively capture and channel the gas flowing within the tube into the cell.

The restrictive flow of the present invention may be characterized using the term “diode.” The term “diode” is generally used in electronics to refer to a device that freely passes electrical current in one direction but not in the opposite direction. In the present invention, “diode” is used to refer generally to the restriction of flow between airbag cells. This “diode effect” is due in part to differences in pressures; during initial filling of the cells the gas pressure within the delivery tube is very high, yet the gas pressure within each pressurized cell is comparatively much lower after inflation. Thus, the gas flow into each cell occurs quite quickly, while the gas flow out of the cells and into adjacent cells, into the delivery tube, or to the atmosphere is comparatively slow.

One way to keep the gas from escaping the cell is to appropriately design how the airbag fits around the delivery tube between cells. The following example is characteristic of the fit between the delivery tube and the airbag between cells. The delivery tube is inserted between the top perimeter seam and the ovals. The ovals assist in isolating the cells or regions from each other. Given a ⅝ inch delivery tube outer diameter, the distance between the top perimeter seam and the oval's seam may be in the range of 1.02 inches to 1.10 inches (with the fabric sewn flat-no pressure). The ⅝ inch delivery tube outer diameter would have a circumference of 1.96 inches nominal. A distance of 1.02 to 1.10 inches between the oval's seam and the top perimeter seam yields an inner circumference of about 2.04 inches to 2.20 inches when expanded by the tube insertion. The clearance between the tube and the fabric opening provides enough clearance to allow for installation. However, the fit between the delivery tube and the airbag still provides enough flow restriction between the tube outer diameter and the airbag fabric to restrict the gas flow between chambers (e.g., cells).

The difference in effective flow area between cells in a conventional open flow airbag and that of an airbag in accordance with the present invention is shown in the following example. A probable effective flow area from the delivery tube into a diode cell to meet initial side impact fill requirements may have an effective flow area in the range of 0.05 square inches to 0.15 square inches for a 30 liter side airbag. This effective flow area from the tube orifices is in addition to the effective flow area occurring from the clearance between the delivery tube outer diameter and the fabric layers sewn around the delivery tube in areas between the cells. Various clearances between the delivery tube outer diameter and sewn fabric layers surrounding the tube between cells may be used, yielding different effective flow areas. For example, with a 2.04 inch fabric circumference around the tube, the maximum possible flow area between a ⅝ inch tube outer diameter and the fabric circumference would be about 0.025 square inches. With the same tube and a 2.2 inch fabric circumference, the maximum flow area would be 0.078 square inches. Given the larger 2.2 inch fabric circumference and the larger of 0.15 square inch flow area from the tube orifices, the maximum effective flow area between adjacent diode cell might be 0.23 square inches.

In a conventional airbag, the flow area, even if restricted by a 1 inch diameter opening between cells is around 0.8 square inches. A 1 inch diameter opening between cells is actually toward the much more restrictive end of current conventional airbags; many, if not all, have even larger open flow effective flow areas. The effective flow area difference in this example would yield 3 to 4 times more open flow area in the conventional design as compared to the diode design discussed above. The range of effective flow areas given for the diode design of the present invention is only an example for illustrational purposes and is not intended to limit designs into that range. Depending on cell sizes, cell volumes, or even timing requirements for filling the cells, the effective flow area requirements may change. Thus, for different sized airbags, different effective flow areas may prove effective.

The diode airbag was tested with varying fits or clearances between the tube outer diameter and the fabric between the cells. When the effective flow area between the tube outer diameter and the fabric between the cells went beyond 0.3 square inches, the chances for strike-through increased. The flow area became too great between cells, thus not as effectively increasing the pressure within the cell during loading of the cell by the mass. Therefore, it was determined that anything under an effective flow area of 0.5 square inches (flow area between fabric and tube plus the flow area from the orifices) between the adjacent cells may provide effective protection in some 30 liter airbag applications. Under 0.25 square inches flow area proved to be even more ideal.

It should be noted that cells not on the ends of the air bag may have almost double the maximum flow area of end cells, since flow can escape from a loaded interior cell into adjacent cells on both the left and the right. Because of this, the cells at the end of the airbag (the cells with only one adjacent cell) may become stiffer than interior cells (the cells with two adjacent cells) during occupant loading. The extra stiffness of the end cells should be taken into account in designing the airbag.

The gas pressures within the inflated cells of the present invention are substantially low in comparison to the pressures within the delivery tube during inflation of the cells from the inflator. Typically, a side airbag inflates during approximately the first 25 milliseconds after being triggered. The occupant interaction with the airbag may initiate around 30 milliseconds in some applications or as late as approximately 55 milliseconds or more in others. Thus, by the time the occupant is loading or interacting with the airbag cell the pressure within the delivery tube has dropped substantially. By this time, the pressure in the delivery tube may actually come close to or equalize to the pressures within the airbag cells. For example, the pressure within the cells may be between 20 to 40 kpa while the pressure within the delivery tube may be 500 kpa to 1500 kpa during initial cell filling from the inflator.

As the occupant loads the cell and increases the cell's pressure, the gas within the cell may use the delivery tube outlet orifices as a cell “vent”. By the gas flowing back through the delivery tube holes and essentially being vented back to other cells in the airbag, the cell is kept from becoming excessively hard. The general goal is to have delivery tube outlet orifices sized with a large enough total effective flow area to achieve the required fill timing for a given cell while being small enough to restrict the backflow, along with the flow restrictions from the fit between the delivery tube and airbag and seam optimization, to achieve desired cell pressure increases during occupant loading.

Due to the advantages of the present invention, lower cell operating pressures may be utilized with the present invention compared to the pressures needed in similar cell inflated cross-sections using a conventional open flow construction between airbag cells. The operating pressure is the pressure the inflator must deliver to the airbag prior to occupant interaction (cell loading) to effectively dissipate the occupant's energy prior to striking through the airbag. The lower operating pressure requirement offered by the diode design is advantageous over previous art since a reduced inflator output can now achieve similar overall occupant protection performance. For example, an airbag without the more restrictive flow design of the present invention would require a higher output inflator (larger size) to fill the cells to a higher required operating pressure. A reduced output inflator or smaller size inflator required with the present invention may offer the advantages of lower cost, lower weight, and less space required to package the inflator within the vehicle.

Another possible advantage of a diode airbag is the ability to reduce the overall volume of each cell while retaining desired occupant protection properties. Reducing the cell inflated thickness of a conventional airbag will achieve this lowering of the volume, but will require an increased cell operating pressure over that of a thicker inflated cell to achieve similar occupant protection. Because of the smaller cell volume that may be required with the present invention, faster fill times and faster in-position times may be possible. This can be achieved since it typically takes less time to fill a smaller cell volume.

In the case of a diode design using a thicker cell cross-section (say 4-5 inches), the pressure could be approximately 20 kpa to meet current impact requirements. Reducing the cell volume long with the cell inflated thickness to about 2.5 to 3 inches would require an increased operating pressure of around 60 kpa. The same size inflator, however, could be used for each approach. The advantage of the 20 kpa approach is that it may apply less stress to the seams and thus, reduce overall lower airbag leakage. The approach with the 60 kpa and lower cell thickness/volume could give the advantage of faster in-position times for the same inflator output. Depending on the specific application requirements and goals, either approach may be implemented.

Alternatively, a soft or flexible delivery tube may be utilized instead of a rigid or solid tube. Even a delivery tube constructed from fabric with appropriately staged outlet holes may be utilized for appropriate gas distribution to the individual cells. While more versatility and tunabilty may be allowed by using a rigid delivery tube (due to the ability to shape the tubing wall contour with scoops), the use of a more collapsible (flat lying) tube may have packaging benefits for some applications.

With a solid delivery tube, the scoops which are utilized to channel gas flow into a particular cell region can more efficiently achieve a high flow rate of gas into the cell without disrupting the more efficient laminar flow within the delivery tube. In some solid delivery tubes used for gas delivery into conventional airbags, the outlet orifices are created by perforating the tubing wall. In these cases, the perforated tube wall creates an obstruction within the tubing internal diameter. In addition to restricting the effective flow area to the remainder of the tube, the perforations create a more turbulent gas flow within the tube. Turbulent flow compared to a more laminar flow is known to create increased pressure losses. The more turbulent the flow within a delivery tube, the more these pressure losses may add up, which may lead to inefficient use of the gas energy delivered from the inflator. Thus, more effectively optimizing the delivery tube with appropriately positioned scoops for each individual cell, will use the inflator's gas energy more efficiently.

While a diode-type airbag could be used with any of a number of inflators known in the art, an extended output inflator may work better than some other inflators in roll-over applications. An example of an extended output inflator is shown and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,806 to Fink, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated fully by reference. One of the aspects giving the extended output inflator a performance advantage is the use of a gas mixture contained therein. One gas with a small molecular size, such as helium, in combination with a gas with a larger molecular size, such as argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, etc., may be utilized.

A smaller molecule gas, such as helium, may be utilized because it has been shown to more rapidly fill an airbag. This likely is because helium has a lower molecular weight of 4. For example, argon is a higher molecular weight gas with a molecular weight of almost 40. The helium molecules flow more quickly through a given flow area than a larger gas molecule, such as argon.

The initial inflation of the airbag cells from the stowed state to the inflated state typically needs to occur within 15 to 25 milliseconds (in-position time) after a signal is received from a crash sensor. In-position time is the time required for the airbag to deploy from the stowed state within the roofline of a vehicle to a substantially unfolded and inflated position covering the vehicle's interior side structure. Thus, helium in a gas mixture may give the pressurized gas mix the ability to quickly flow into the airbag to meet the required in-position timing. Helium however, due to its small molecular size, will have a greater tendency to leak through any potential leak paths in the airbag than would a higher molecular size gas. Therefore, a higher molecular size gas within the pressurized gas mixture, such as argon, gives this pressurized gas mix the characteristic of a slower leak rate through any airbag leak paths. A gas mixture can therefore be optimized to meet both demands, fast in-position time and low leakage, by utilizing the best mixture percentage scenario to meet particular application requirements.

It has been found that a cold gas inflator containing only a higher molecular size gas, such as argon, may not achieve the required 15-20 millisecond in-position fill timing alone. In a cold gas inflator, the gas within the bottle undergoes decompression during inflation and cools rapidly. The larger size gas molecules become more sluggish compared to a smaller size molecule when cooled. This sluggishness has to do with each gas's critical temperature. The larger the gas molecule, the higher the gas's critical temperature. The closer a gas comes to its critical temperature during cooling from decompression, the slower the random movement of the molecules becomes. Thus, a higher molecular weight gas will become more sluggish as it is cooled than will a lower molecular weight gas. Therefore, in general, the flow rate of a higher molecular weight gas will be lower through a given outlet area as compared to a smaller molecular weight gas.

Finding an optimum mixture of high and low molecular weight gases is important to the functionality of an airbag. The ideal gas mixture will depend on the application or, more specifically, on the internal volume of the airbag and the fill timing requirements. It has been found that airbags of a smaller internal volume, for example around 25-35 liters, may allow for a higher concentration of argon in a helium-argon mixture while meeting required fill times or in-position timing. As discussed above, providing the airbag with as high a concentration of the larger gas molecule as appropriate will achieve better gas pressure retention over time in the airbag. In particular, higher pressure retention over time is desired when rollover protection is a concern.

In larger airbag volumes, the concentration of argon may need to be reduced to assist in meeting required in-position timing for the larger volume being filled. Typical gas mixtures for smaller airbags may range from 60% helium/40% argon to 75% helium/25% argon. For the larger airbag volumes (40 L and up), the ratio of helium may need to be increased. Typical ratios found effective may range from 65% helium/35% argon to 80% helium/20% argon. These ratios are typical of ranges found effective with conventional open flow airbags.

As disclosed herein, the diode airbag designs allow for higher concentrations of argon due to techniques achieving faster in-position times more independent of the gas mix ratio. Again, these possible higher concentrations of the larger gas molecule will further enhance airbag pressure retention. Mixtures have been used with a cold gas extended output inflator or even in a single chambered cold gas inflator in the range of 50% helium/50% argon. This particular mixture provided in-position times in the 40 millisecond range. Thus, depending on fill timing requirements (longer in-position time requirements allow increased argon ratios), the concentration of the larger gas molecule, such as argon, may range from 10% to 100%.

Effusion is the rate at which a gas will pass through a porous barrier/hole/orifice or any mall potential leak path or opening. Effusion, as it applies to airbags, relates to the tendency of smaller gas molecule, such as helium, to leak through the airbag leak paths to the atmosphere at higher rate than a larger gas molecule, such as argon.

Once in the airbag, the larger gas molecule within the gas mixture may effectively act as a “blocker” to restrict the leakage of some of the helium molecules through the seam openings or other leak paths. If the larger argon molecule were not also randomly escaping through the leak paths, the helium molecules would escape more unrestricted or more freely through the leak paths. The helium molecules may now collide with the larger argon molecules, thus diverting a path which would have otherwise met directly with the atmosphere. In effect, the overall gas leakage is reduced.

Another airbag characteristic that has an influence on the required inflator gas mix ratio is the airbag's operating pressure. A distinct advantage of the lower operating pressure diode airbag of the present invention is that the gas mixture ratio may allow for a higher concentration of the larger gas molecule, such as argon. A diode airbag may be inflated to operating pressures of about 20-40 kpa as opposed to conventional open flow designs requiring around 60-120 kpa. Because a diode airbag has a lower operating pressure, a smaller amount of gas in a smaller inflator is necessary.

Additionally, a lower airbag operating pressure allows for reduced seam leakage and reduced stress to the seams. Also, it is easier for an extended output inflator to effectively maintain a lower operating pressure over an extended period of time than it would be for the inflator to maintain a higher required operating pressure. Therefore, the combination of an extended output inflator and a diode airbag design can offer significant system level advantages.

Another advantage of a lower operating pressure airbag may be reduced injury to out-of-position occupants. In some situations, an occupant may be in a position very close to a deploying airbag. Airbags are required to deploy at extremely fast rates and have been known to cause injury to occupants who intrude on the deployment path of an inflating airbag. One aspect having an influence on potential injury to the out of position occupant is the internal airbag pressure. The diode airbag of the present invention would effectively reduce the force experienced by the out-of-position occupant because of its lower internal pressure over a given surface area.

Additionally, as an airbag “tuning” benefit, the diode airbag may be designed to deliver a relatively higher pressure to only some of the cells within an airbag. It is possible to achieve a higher pressure in a selected cell(s) over the initial filling/occupant interaction event, approximately the first 20-60 milliseconds. If, for instance, certain cells would perform better with higher pressure over the initial occupant impact, tuning these cells may be advantageous. For example, cells known to interacted with an occupant during a vehicle or pole impact may be tuned to a higher pressure. Once the selected cells receive the higher pressure to meet the requirements for the initial side impact, the pressures within that particular cell may equalize with the remaining cells as the gas is gradually transferred back through the delivery tube outlet orifices.

A further performance “tuning” advantage with the diode approach is to have particular cells receive gas at a faster rate than other cells. Delivering gas at a faster rate to selected cells may yield faster in-position timing. This will allow the selected cells to pull the remainder of the airbag down and be in the fully deployed in-position state faster than if all the cells received equal amounts of the initial gas delivery. The cells targeted to be the cells to receive the higher pressure can also be the same selected to cells to have the faster filling times. These two objectives of higher cell pressure and a faster gas delivery rate work well together.

Another option with the diode approach is to create particular cell(s) or cell regions that inflate over a longer period of time. These cells could be cells that are not required during the initial side impact, but are needed in time for a rollover type event. This may be achieved by having delivery tube outlet orifices with an effective flow area substantially smaller than that of the tube orifices used for filling the cells needed for the initial side impact. These smaller outlet orifices could be in direct communication with the slower filling cells. Instead of these slower filling cells filling in the 15-25 millisecond time frame, they could fill relatively slower, 100-500 milliseconds or even longer, for example.

By using the slower filling cell option, less inflator output may be required for the initial side impact requirement because less total volume is required to be filled. Then, the cells that fill over the longer period of time need to fill only to a lower pressure compared to the initially faster filled cells, as much as half the pressure or less. Thus, the total inflator output requirement is reduced by staging the inflation of selected cells. Yet, the total protection area is provided as needed, when and where it is needed.

In particular, slower filling cells could be cells which fill to provide protection on the roof area or ceiling of the vehicle. These cells would not necessarily be required during an initial side impact event, but would provide benefit during a rollover event. The time requirement for these cells to fill may be relatively much later in time to that of the cells utilized during the side impact event.

With the inflatable cells filling for roof protection, there may not be as much room between an occupant's head and the roof Especially with larger or taller occupant's, this will be the case. For the cells intended to cover a larger surface area within the roof liner, the airbag can alternatively be stowed in an unfolded condition within the roof liner. This would allow for essentially immediate or pre-existing in-position timing and reduce concerns about airbag positioning in cases with taller occupants.

Another application for slower filling cells could be to expand the inflated airbag cell coverage area over the side structure of the vehicle. This provides expanded protection in a vehicle rollover, as the occupant may be tossed around and come into contact with areas of the vehicle not typical of non-rollover events.

It is possible that areas within a particular airbag which were not intentionally designed to fill with gas may fill gradually over time. The reason for these additional unintended cells may be the fact that seams used to close-off these un-inflated airbag areas actually allow leakage through the seams and into the unintended cell area. As an extended output inflator continues to supply pressure to an airbag, these unintended cells fill with gas. Depending on the degree of leakage in the seam, the time it takes for the unintended cells to fill may vary. In one particular airbag, the unintended cell filled in approximately 1 second, as viewed on video monitoring of the deployment. Optionally, the offending seams creating the unintended cells may be strategically opened, creating slower filling cells. Furthermore, the total tension in the airbag may be further increased by the expansion of these slower filling cells over time.

Occupant containment is another demand required of an airbag. Occupant containment is the ability of a deployed airbag to keep the occupant within the vehicle, preventing possible ejection of the occupant through a window opening. Airbag tension over a window opening has an effect on the degree of containment or occupant displacement beyond the window opening. With an airbag in accordance with the present invention, it is likely that less displacement of the cell at the airbag cross-section level will occur. This may translate into less total occupant excursion when compared to a similar cell inflated cross-section at the same pressure level using conventional open flow between cells, which likely would deform to a greater extent.

Yet another option that could be added to an airbag in accordance with the present invention is inflatable straps. Straps are often used to anchor an airbag to the vehicle. Having the straps inflate will decrease their length as compared to their un-inflated state, thereby creating tension within the straps and the airbag to which they are affixed. Configuring the straps to inflate after the initial inflation of the airbag could advantageously add tension to the airbag at a time when it would otherwise be losing tension due to pressure loss.

The following example highlights some of the advantages of the diode design of the present invention by comparison to a conventionally designed airbag. In this particular comparison example, a two-row coverage (A to C pillar) airbag with an approximate volume of 30 liters is used. The airbags in this comparison example were both cut and sewn airbag constructions without seam sealing and used a similar fabric.

The conventional open flow airbag has been found through dynamic pole testing to require an operating pressure of around 60-70 kpa to prevent occupant head strike through. The internal volumes of the airbags were essentially held constant at 30 liters. The airbags were each subjected to energy absorbing tests where a fixed mass is dropped from a predetermined height into each airbag in the same location/area. Also, similar inflated cross-section thicknesses were utilized. The mass used was a 6.5 inch diameter shape, which approximately simulates the surface area of an occupant head. Tests of both types of airbags revealed that the conventional open flow airbag required approximately two to three times more pressure to prevent the same mass energy from striking through an airbag as compared to the pressure required by a diode airbag in accordance with the present invention.

This difference in the operating pressure requirement allows a diode airbag to use a substantially smaller inflator. In the example above, simulating side impact protection only (non rollover), the inflator requirement in the conventional open flow airbag to yield 60 kpa requires a 2.3 molar output cold gas inflator (He/Ar). The inflator required by the diode airbag to meet an approximate 22 kpa operating pressure is a 1.5 molar output cold gas inflator (He/Ar). Thus, the conventional airbag requires an approximate 50% higher molar output inflator than the diode airbag. This is due in part to the lower operating pressure requirement of the diode airbag, but also to the reduced airbag stress allowed by the lower operating pressures (lower airbag leakage).

Using the same sewn/unsealed airbag examples, airbag/inflator combinations were then evaluated as they relate to rollover protection. It was determined that the conventional open flow airbag would require approximately 15 kpa at 5 seconds to sufficiently meet containment requirements, given a 5 second containment objective. Given that fixed 5 second objective, a diode airbag will perform similarly on containment objectives with an airbag pressure of around 10 kpa at 5 seconds. This pressure value for a diode airbag is estimated from the reduction in displacement within the loaded cell cross-section on a diode airbag compared to the conventional airbag. Through testing, it was determined that the conventional airbag required a 3.5 molar output cold gas Extended Output Inflator (EOI) to meet the approx. 15 kpa at 5 seconds. Preliminary testing also found that the lower operating pressure diode airbag to requires a 2.5 molar output cold gas EOI to meet the 10 kpa at 5 seconds criteria.

Seam sewing to reduce leak paths for enhanced pressure retention in unsealed airbags can also affect the performance of an airbag. Airbag leakage can be broken down into several key leak paths. First, leakage may occur through the base fabric, which is more commonly referred to as fabric permeability. The permeability is the rate of gas leakage through the fabric structure or through the thread weaves. Several methods can be employed to reduce or effectively eliminate this potential leak path. One conventional method is to coat the fabric with a gas impermeable substrate such as silicon. Other coatings such as neoprene, polyurethane, polyester, etc. or others may be used. Another commonly known method is the use of laminates. Yet another method to reduce fabric permeability is dipping a fabric in a solution that penetrates and bonds/adheres to the fabric creating a barrier to leakage.

In the fabrics coated with silicon, it has been found that higher levels of coating help to reduce airbag leakage. A typical coating level used in a popular 420 denier nylon fabric is 0.7 ounce per square yard of coating. At this coating level, the permeability may be substantially reduced compared to a non-coated fabric. However, some permeability is present, especially as the pressures are increased.

In side curtain applications, the airbag operating pressures are well above atmospheric pressure. A typical pressure could be 50 kpa to 120 kpa and beyond. At these higher pressures and with the large surface areas required to make up a side curtain, the impact of the fabric permeability more substantially affects the total airbag leak rate. This is especially true as the time requirements for maintaining an inflated airbag increase. The fabric permeability may be low compared to uncoated fabrics but even small amounts can surely add up when considered in totality over the entire surface area of the airbag.

A second leak path exists in areas where a seam is used to join fabric panels. One commonly practiced method to create a seam is to sew the fabric panels together using stitching (sewn seams). With a sewn seam, several potential leak paths exist. One leak path exists between the fabric panels as the panels are sandwiched together by the sewn seam. That is, leakage may occur between the fabric layers through the perimeter opening of the fabric. Increasing the density of the stitching may also reduce leakage.

Yet another leak path exists where a needle hole is created during the stitching process as the needle thread is passed through each panel fabric layer. As the stitching thread passes through the created needle holes, it will assist in blocking some gas flow. However, some degree of leakage will still exist.

Another method used to reduce airbag leakage has been termed “Seal and Sew”. This method utilizes an adhesive or sealant that is applied to fabric panels in all the areas that are needed to create the pattern and shape of the inflated airbag. Then, for increased strength and integrity, a sewn stitch is added in the center of the sealant bead. While this method has been found to reduce airbag leakage and be a potential option for increased pressure retention, drawbacks exist. The adhesive/sealants required are quite expensive. The application process has been deemed “messy” and time consuming. The needle passing through the adhesive bead can pick up contaminants from the sealant bead, which may then negatively affect the sewing process. A cure time is also required after applying the adhesive bead prior to sewing. Another substantial drawback with the “seal and sew” method is that the seam requires an increased package size when the airbag is folded and stored in the stowed position in the vehicle roof line area.

A fabric type known for low permeability is disclosed in Published U.S. Patent Application 2004/0242098 A1 (the '098 application) to Bass, published on Dec. 2, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference. Such a fabric has advantages for reduced leakage due to its extremely low permeability, while also displaying favorable leak prevention characteristics at the seam level. The treated fabric has been found to have reduced leakage at the needle hole leak path as compared to other fabric alternatives. Such a fabric also appears to more effectively mold around the thread and create a better seal against gas escaping through the needle hole.

Another common seam construction method is called OPW or One Piece Woven. This process weaves the fabric panels together to create an interconnected seam as the fabric is passed through a loom. This method yields fewer leaks because no thread is used. However, OPW is still susceptible to seam stress from inflation, and leak paths may be created in these seam areas.

Because a smaller needle size generally yields less leakage, several combinations of thread sizes and needle types/sizes were explored. Three different thread sizes were used (#138, #92 and #69 thread sizes). The most commonly used thread size in automotive airbags is the #138 size in nylon. After matching each thread size with the best needle to efficiently deliver the thread without breakage or seam inconsistencies, the thread size/needle combinations were tested to comparatively evaluate seam leak rates.

To more effectively evaluate seam leakage and compare multitudes of variables (such as seam density, thread size, needle size, needle point type, thread type, thread brand, bobbin thread tension, needle thread tension, and fabric type), fabric swatches were sewn together to create multitudes of small inflatable square shaped “pillows.” The test specimen pillows were used to evaluate seam leakage at the outer pillow perimeter seam along with a circular seam sewn in the center. Four fabrics were used for comparisons with the varying seam constructions—fabric disclosed in the '098 application in 315 and 420 denier and silicon coated 315 and 420 denier fabric (both having approximately 1 oz/sq yd of coating).

The test pillows were pressurized to pressures of both 20 kpa and then 60 kpa and maintained at each of those levels during leak evaluations. Three methods were used to evaluate the leakage—submersion of the pillows with visual observation, spray of the seam with a bubble leak check solution and lastly, electronically monitoring the pressure decay after shutting off the supply pressure.

The seam in the center was chosen to simulate a higher stressed type seam that is typical of many side curtain airbag patterns. These types of higher stressed seams are those that have the airbag inflatable areas pulling up on the seam around substantially the entire seam perimeter. In addition, these seams are typically of relatively small size so as to not add too large of an un-inflated area within a required protection zone of the airbag. Therefore, these higher stressed seams have a relatively small seam length (circumference) exposed to some of the highest forces occurring within the inflated airbag. These higher stressed seams generally occur in the inner areas of the inflated side curtain. It is these higher stressed seam areas which generally develop the most notable degree of leakage under pressurization. Thus, finding the best solutions to reduce leakage on these highly stressed seams will prove quite beneficial for enhanced airbag pressure retention.

Through testing, it was discovered that by adding an additional small fabric layer to the exterior side(s) of the airbag, substantially reduced leakage resulted. This is advantageous in areas that undergo much higher stresses during inflation and pressurization. The reinforcements could be small circular cutouts covering the circular center seam.

Externally positioned reinforcements serve a dual purpose. First, they add additional fabric strength to the highly stressed seam area, thus effectively reducing the spreading apart of the fabric weave. Second, the fabric layer takes on a gasketing effect to reduce the leakage which would otherwise flow more easily through the needle holes.

Comparative tests were also conducted with the reinforcing layer(s) positioned on the inside of the pillow surfaces or within the pressure boundary. Positioning on the inside showed substantially less promise in reducing leakage. Some minor benefit was realized by adding strength or resistance to the spreading of the outer fabric weave, but the overall leakage in these stress point areas were still substantially higher than with the fabric reinforcing layer sewn on the outside surface or exterior sides of the pillow.

Therefore, in higher stressed areas of an airbag, externally positioned reinforcing layers can improve pressure retention. Both the silicon coated fabric reinforcing layers and the '098 application fabric reinforcing layers were found effective when positioned externally. The '098 application fabric showed an edge over the silicon coated fabric. The silicon fabric displayed better results with the coated surface facing the airbag.

The results related to seam density along the perimeter showed that in all the fabric types a higher seam density provided lower overall leakage. A seam density of 18 to 22 stitches per inch with a #92 thread being preferable. As the density was increased beyond approximately 24 stitches per inch, no appreciable reduction in leakage was seen with any of the thread sizes. A #92 thread allows for approximately 50% more thread length to be wound onto the bobbin case/spool compared to a #138 thread. This allows for reduced change-over times when replacing the bobbin spools. Also, the smaller #92 thread cross-section reduces the seam thickness, which has advantages when the airbag is folded.

It was also discovered that too low a bobbin tension resulted increased leakage. The lower bobbin tension is not as effective in bunching together the fabric to better restrict leakage in the seam. So, a combination of an appropriate higher bobbin tension combined with a needle tension of approximately 2-4 times more than the bobbin tension have been found quite effective in reducing leakage. Also, a polyester thread with silicon additive has been found to process through the machine/needle more effectively than even a same thread size #92 in nylon.

Utilizing a cold gas inflator for the inflation of the airbag allows for the use of a polyester thread. Conventionally, many airbags utilized inflators with hotter gas outputs, and, therefore, required nylon thread, or in some cases even threads with higher temperature resistance such as brands of Kevlar or Nomex. In the case of using a cold gas inflator, the use of a polyester thread type is possible.

A combination found most effective is the use of a polyester Coats brand, #92 thread size of bonded construction, with a silicon additive. The needle found most effective is a 100-16. The needle point type found most effective is an RG. This type of needle will produce less cutting or abrasion of the fabric during sewing, while not adversely affecting the leak rate. The tension for the bobbin thread found most effective is 6-9 ounces. A corresponding effective tension for the needle thread was found to be 18-25 ounces.

Additionally, the elongation of the different thread types were found to have an effect on leakage. Generally, a stiffer thread yields a lower leakage rate during airbag pressurization. Too stiff a thread may adversely affect the stitch breaking strength, but a thread such as a bonded polyester has been found quite effective. A thread utilizing a higher content of silicon coating or treatment could prove to be even further advantageous for reducing sewn seam leakage.

Several techniques in sewing the actual patterns into the airbag have also uncovered advantages for reduced leakage. Some of these methods can also improve upon process time while providing favorable seam uniformity and consistency. In sewing the smaller circular, oval, oblong, etc. shaped patterns, utilizing a programmed machine can provide superior seam uniformity. These program machines move the fabric in the circular pattern without the need for turning the entire airbag through a 360 rotation.

It has also been noted that the utilization of a single seam to connect a centrally located seam (circular for example) back to the airbag perimeter seam also may reduce leakage. The number of needle holes created for this connecting seam is reduced by about half when compared to a conventional dual seam.

Another feature found helpful for reducing leakage is to fold the airbag at the bottom perimeter as opposed to using a seam and two separate fabric panels. This technique is known in the industry as a “taco fold.”

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10A another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided. In this embodiment an inflatable curtain airbag or inflatable cushion 210 for a side of a vehicle is provided. The inflatable cushion has a first cushion section 212 formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells 214 each of which having an inlet opening 216 for receipt of an inflation gas during inflation of the inflatable cushion.

The inflatable cushion also has an internal passageway 218 formed in the first cushion section. The internal passageway traverses along an upper edge of the inflatable cushion linking and fluidly coupling each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells by providing a path to each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells. Although the internal passageway is shown traversing along an upper edge of the inflatable cushion alternative embodiments contemplate the internal passageway being located at other locations (e.g., bottom, sides or portions thereof).

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention the inflatable cushion may comprise only first section 212 or first section 212 and a second section 220 each having a plurality of separate inflatable cells wherein each of the inflatable cells has an inlet opening proximate to the internal passageway.

Other embodiments contemplate an inflatable cushion with a single and/or multiple inflatable sections with non-inflatable sections secured thereto and/or between the inflatable sections. In order to provide inflation gas from an inflator 222 to the inflatable cushion, a diffuser member 224 is disposed in the internal passageway. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the diffuser member is configured to supply an inflation gas from the inflator to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells. In one embodiment, the diffuser member is shaped as a tube or any other equivalent structure. In still another embodiment, the tube or member 224 consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric tube or member (hereinafter referred to as tube) formed from a permeable material wherein the tube is sealed to an output of the inflator. The non-rigid fabric tube is independent of a first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric tube covers each or in some instances (e.g., the outermost cells at the ends of the cushion) a portion of the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material in order to inflate the inflatable cushions. In other words, the non-rigid fabric tube does not have any inflation openings and in order to inflate the inflatable cushion the inflation gas passes through the fabric of the non-rigid fabric tube. In essence, the permeability of the fabric of the tube defines the air passages that the inflation gases pass through thus, the fabric tube is formed without any intentionally added openings or fabricated openings in the fabric tube.

In one embodiment the non-rigid fabric tube is a woven non-rigid fabric tube and the woven non-rigid fabric tube is formed from a material that is more permeable than the first material forming the first cushion section. In still another embodiment portions of the non-rigid fabric tube are more permeable than other portions of the non-rigid fabric tube, wherein fluid flow of the inflation gas to the plurality of inflatable cells is varied. In other words, the more permeable sections are aligned with the openings of the inflatable cells. In still another alternative embodiment the less permeable portions of the non-rigid fabric tube are provided by a double walled non-rigid fabric tube (e.g., a tube within a tube) while the more permeable portions are provided by a single walled non-rigid fabric tube. Typically this double walled section can be over the first several inches directly at an output of the inflator where the stresses from the out flowing gas are the highest. This provides added strength in that area and also reduces the permeability that otherwise would occur from the highly stressed fabric tube due to the violent outflow of gas in this section. Thus, sections of the tube are in some embodiments provided with a double wall section while others are a single wall section.

In still other embodiments less permeable portions of the soft fabric tube may be provided by selectively coating certain sections of the fabric diffuser tube with a sealant while leaving other sections uncoated thus providing more permeable sections where the more permeable sections are aligned with the inlet openings of the inflatable cells. In the embodiment where woven fabric tubes are utilized the weave of the fabric tube may be varied along its length such that a larger weave pattern is provided in the more permeable sections while a tighter weave pattern is provided in a less permeable sections. Other ways of varying the permeability of the fabric tube include providing non-uniform weave in the more permeable sections and a uniform weave in the less permeable sections. Accordingly, different areas have different weave patterns to produce different flow rates through the fabric of the diffuser tube. In still another embodiment, the tubes are formed by sewing flat cushion fabric into a tubular structure (e.g., end to end securement while leaving at least one end open to allow for securement of the inflator thereto) instead of a woven fabric tube. Thus, numerous ways to tune and control fluid flow into the inflatable cells of the cushion is provided. Moreover, and as will be discussed herein, further tuning is provided by locating stitching around the diffuser tube after it is inserted into the internal passageway of the inflatable cushion.

During inflation of the inflatable cushion when an inflation gas is delivered from the inflator through the diffuser tube and into the plurality of separate inflatable cells the diffuser tube expands from an un-inflated state to an inflated state wherein the tube expands from a generally flat configuration into an expanded tubular or inflated state thus limiting fluid flow between the cells other than fluid flow through the diffuser tube.

During the inflation of the inflatable cushion and diffuser tube it is desirable to restrict fluid flow between an exterior portion 226 of the diffuser tube and an interior surface 228 of the internal passageway disposed proximate to the edges of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells such that fluid flow between the isolated cells is limited and fluid flow from the diffuser tube into the cell through the fabric of the diffuser tube is provided. As used herein edge of the inlet openings refers to the opening defined by the sewing patterns or portions of the cushion for example, the edges of the dividing walls illustrated as top edge portion 248. Of course, this is but one non-limiting example.

In order to do this a first side (e.g., inboard side) and a second side (e.g., outboard side) of the first cushion section or the first cushion section and the second cushion section are secured to each other proximate to the areas in which the diffuser tube passes through the internal passageway and also at the edges of the inlet openings of the inflatable cells such that upon inflation, inflation gases cannot traverse or the inflation gas flow is limited from one inflatable cell to another inflatable cell through an air gap between an exterior surface of the diffuser tube and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to the inlet openings of the inflatable cells.

For example, and referring now to FIG. 9A a portion of an upper edge portion of the inflatable cushion is illustrated. Here the soft diffuser tube is illustrated passing through the internal passageway and across an inlet opening 216 of an inflatable cell. As shown, the inflatable cushion has an upper edge portion 230, seam 232 (e.g., wherein the two fabric portions comprising the inflatable cushion are sewn together), stitching 234 which also secures the two fabric portions comprising the inflatable cushion together to define sidewalls 236 of each of the inflatable cells. In addition, and in order to define the rest of the perimeter of the inflatable cells a lower edge portion 238 of the inflatable cushion also has a seam or stitching 240 (FIG. 7) securing the two fabric portions together to form a lower edge of the inflatable cushion such that inlet opening 216 is the only inflation opening for each of the plurality of inflatable cells.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the inlet opening 216 of each of the plurality of inflatable cells is covered or traversed by a portion 242 of the non-rigid fabric diffuser tube. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the portion 242 is permeable such that as the diffuser tube inflates inflation gases illustrated by arrows 244 will pass through portion 242 of the diffuser tube into the inflatable cell via inlet opening 216. In order to provide each inflation opening 216, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a plurality of stitches 246 are provided. The plurality of stitches 246 secure the two side portions of the inflatable cushion together such that fluid flow between each of the inflatable cells through a gap between a top edge portion 248 (the end of the stitching 234 defining sidewalls 236) and an exterior surface 226 of the diffuser tube is restricted or limited since the two walls of the inflatable cushion are now secured to each other. Moreover and since the plurality of stitches 246 are in a circular configuration the size of the inlet opening can be varied by the configuration of the plurality of stitches 246 or location of the circular or other configurations of stitches 246. In essence, the placement of location of the circles is one method of adjusting the inlet opening size. Furthermore, and since the stitching defines a closed loop, circle or oval, the two sides of the inflatable cushion are secured to each other on either side of the stitching forming sidewalls 236.

In addition and in one alternative embodiment, an upper edge portion 250 of the plurality of stitches is located proximate to the location of the exterior surface of the diffuser tube when it is in the internal passageway in the inflated state. Located vertically above the plurality of stitches 246 is an upper set of plurality of stitches 252. Alternatively, the stitches forming seam 232 are used in conjunction with upper edge portion 250 to limit fluid flow between an exterior surface of the diffuser tube and the interior surface 228 of the internal passageway. The upper set of stitches 252 are independent and distinct from the plurality of stitches 246. In this embodiment and as illustrated, the plurality of stitches 252 are arranged in a semicircular or other curved configuration wherein a lower edge portion 254 is located proximate to the location of the exterior surface of the diffuser tube when it is in the internal passageway in the inflated state. Accordingly, upper edge portion 250 and lower edge portion 254 define a dimension or height 256 of the internal passageway proximate to the edge of the inlet opening of each of the plurality of inflatable cells such that during inflation, gases will pass through the fabric of the diffuser tube (portion 242) in the directions of arrows 244 and leakage of inflation gases between each of the inflatable cells through a gap between the exterior surface of the diffuser tube and an interior surface of the internal passageway since the dimension of the internal passageway is now limited to dimension 256 which corresponds closely to the external dimension of the diffuser tube. In an exemplary embodiment, dimension 256 is similar to the corresponding dimension of the inflated diffuser tube such that fluid flow between the exterior surface of the diffuser tube and the interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to the edges of the of the inlet openings of the inflatable cells is limited.

During manufacture of the inflatable cushion one method is that stitches 246 and 252 are not provided until the diffuser tube has been inserted into the internal passageway since the lack of stitches 246 and stitches 252 allow the internal passageway to have a dimension larger than a dimension of the diffuser tube such that the same can be easily inserted into the opening (e.g., pulled and/or pushed into the opening). In still another alternative exemplary embodiment, the diffuser tube is laid upon one of these sections of the inflatable cushion prior to the other one being secured thereto then the stitching is applied to the inflatable cushion. Accordingly and once the diffuser tube is properly located stitches 246 and 252 are applied to reduce the dimension down to dimension 256. Alternatively the soft tube may be inserted after all sewing has been completed. A rigid rod assembly tool may be used to push the soft tube into its proper location.

Also shown proximate to top edge portion 248 is a sew pattern 249, which is the overlap of the stitching pattern 246 (e.g., either ends of the pattern of stitches 246). This overlapping design has shown lower leakage rates than if the two ends terminated parallel to each other or if the ends terminated within the pressurized boundary of the inflated cell.

In another alternative exemplary embodiment the diffuser tube 224 may comprise a solid or rigid (e.g., steel, plastic, etc.) diffuser tube inserted into the internal passageway after the application of stitches 246 and 252. Of course and in applications where a solid or rigid tube is used the same will require inflation openings aligned with opening 216 since the solid or rigid tube is not permeable. In still other alternative exemplary embodiments, and as will be discussed herein, the inflatable cushion will comprise a non-rigid fabric diffuser tube for a portion of the inflatable cushion and a solid or rigid diffuser tube inserted in other sections of the inflatable cushion.

In one embodiment and in order to properly align the location of stitches 246 and 252 locating features 258 are provided. In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment the locating features are slits cut in the fabric portions of the inflatable cushion.

In one embodiment and in order to provide reinforcement and reduced leakage to the plurality of stitches 246, a piece of fabric 260 is sewn to the exterior surface of the inflatable cushion via plurality of stitches 246 such that upon inflation the inflation forces do not tear stitches 246. In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the fabric portions are formed from materials similar to those used for the inflatable cushion.

Referring now to FIG. 9B, the same section of the inflatable cushion is illustrated without stitches 246 and 252. As illustrated, flow paths or passageways 262 and 264 are located between an exterior surface of the diffuser tube and an interior surface of the internal passageway. Accordingly and during inflation, inflation gases will be able to pass from one inflatable cell to the other via these flow paths or passageways unless stitches 246 and 252 are applied.

Referring back now to FIGS. 8A-8C each of the inlet openings 216 of each of the inflatable cells may be varied by locating the stitching 234 defining the sidewalls 236 at different locations in order to provide different sized openings. The main way to control the flow into the cells is by the location of the same sized circles (or any other configuration having a curved surface) 246, some being spaced further apart than others. In addition to or as an alternative to varying the location of the stitching 234 the configuration of stitching 246 may be varied for example, oval stitching 270 may be provided in conjunction with or as an alternative to a more circular type of stitching 272 (FIG. 8B). Thus, the oval stitches traverses in a greater horizontal direction (as view in the figures) than the circular stitches. In still yet another alternative embodiment, sewn lines securing the two sides of the inflatable cushion together extend into inflation opening 216 such that the size of opening 216 is now further reduced (FIG. 8C). In accordance with still another alternative exemplary embodiment and in order to vary the flow rate through the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric diffuser tube, the permeability of the portions of the diffuser tube corresponding to the inflation openings of the inflatable cells may vary by for example, using two layers of fabric material such that the inflation gas must now pass through two layers of fabric material prior to it passing into the inflatable cell. Of course, other methods of limiting the fluid flow through the material of the fabric diffuser tube may be employed by for example, varying the density or permeability of the same.

Accordingly, it is understood that any of the aforementioned embodiments can be used alone or in combination with others in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 10 an inflatable cushion 210 with a first inflatable cushion section 212 and a second inflatable cushion section 220 is illustrated. In this embodiment the diffuser tube is entirely a soft non-rigid fabric tube fluidly coupled to the inflator and disposed in the internal passageway with the plurality of stitches or a means for dividing or separating flow into the desired cells between an exterior portion of the diffuser tube and an interior surface of the internal passageway disposed between each inlet opening of the plurality of inflatable cells as described herein. In addition, the inflatable cushion illustrated in FIG. 10 comprises non-inflatable sections 274 disposed between and/or along the periphery of the inflatable sections. In addition, the inflatable cushion may further comprise tethers 276 and 278 extending from forward and rearward ends of the inflatable cushion.

Referring now to FIG. 11 still another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, here a portion of the diffuser tube comprises a rigid (e.g., steel, other metals or plastic) tube 280 (illustrated by dashed lines) and another portion is a non-rigid fabric inserted in the internal passageway. In this embodiment, the rigid tube will, of course, have inflation openings aligned with the openings of the inflatable cells. In this embodiment, the non-rigid fabric portion of the diffuser tube will be the only means for providing inflation gas to some of the plurality of inflatable cells while the rigid diffuser tube will be the only means for providing inflation gas to the remainder of the plurality of inflatable cells of the inflatable cushion. Also shown in FIG. 11 is a third inflatable cushion section. It being understood that numerous inflatable cushion sections or a single inflatable cushion section may be used in any of the aforementioned embodiments and it is understood that the inflatable cushion of exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be configured to cover vehicles of various sizes (e.g., 1, 2, 3 row vehicles).

Referring now to FIGS. 12-13C still other alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, here a portion of the diffuser tube comprises a rigid (e.g., steel, other metals or plastic) tube 280 (illustrated by dashed lines) and another portion is a non-rigid fabric inserted in the internal passageway. In this embodiment, the rigid tube will, of course, have inflation openings aligned with the openings of the inflatable cells. In this embodiment, the non-rigid fabric portion of the diffuser tube is used only to connect the two sections of rigid tubes (yet may also be the only means for providing inflation gas to some of the plurality of inflatable cells or in this specific embodiment it only connects and likely would even be a sealed fabric tube) while the rigid diffuser tube will be the only means for providing inflation gas to the remainder of the plurality of inflatable cells of the inflatable cushion. FIG. 13B also shows that the location of the rigid and/or the non-rigid section provides packaging benefits (e.g., lack of rigid portions allows the side curtain air bag to be folded up into a smaller configuration that allows for ease of shipping). FIGS. 12-13C also show different inflatable cushion section configurations wherein some sections are connected to each other via the diffuser tube (rigid and/or non-rigid) and non inflatable sections comprising a single layer of fabric or in some applications only the diffuser tube (rigid and/or non-rigid) are the means for securing separate inflatable cushion sections together.

In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the diffuser tube and means for restricting fluid flow between each cell by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser tube and an interior surface of the internal passageway at the junction between each cell, the inflatable cushion requires only a single inflator in order to inflate the inflatable cushion during an activation event. Of course, the usage of multiple inflators is also contemplated in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Also provided herein is a method of controlling the flow rate of an inflation gas into the inflatable cushion by limiting an amount of surface area between an exterior surface of a non-rigid fabric diffuser tube and an interior surface of an internal passageway formed in the inflatable cushion section as well as controlling the amount of and permeability of the surface area of an exterior surface of the non-rigid fabric diffuser tube positioned across an inflation opening of each or a portion of the plurality of cells in an inflatable cushion section or sections. As discussed herein and in one exemplary embodiment, the inflatable cushion is formed from a first material and the diffuser tube consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric tube formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric tube is independent of the first material used to form the inflatable cushion and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric tube covers each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application. 

1. An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells each of which having only an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells; a diffuser member disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is the main source of fluid flow into each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material of the diffuser member in order to inflate each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells such that a predetermined effective flow area is provided between a loaded cell of anyone of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells and the remaining plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells, wherein the effective flow area causes an inflated cell of one of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells to have an increased internal pressure when it is impacted by an object and wherein the increased internal pressure will prevent the object from striking through the cell with the increased internal pressure and wherein the inflated cell has an internal pressure greater than 20 kilopascals and less than 40 kilopascals prior to its impact by the object.
 2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet opening of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells is a plurality of stitches through the first material of the first cushion section, the plurality of stitches being arranged to provide a plurality of independent and discrete plurality of stitches.
 3. The inflatable cushion as in claim 2, wherein the plurality of stitches are applied after the diffuser member is inserted into the internal passageway and wherein the diffuser member is a diffuser tube.
 4. The inflatable cushion as in claim 2, wherein some of the plurality of stitches are arranged in a plurality of oval patterns and some of the plurality of stitches are arranged into a plurality of curved patterns, the plurality of oval patterns being located on one side of the diffuser member and the plurality of curved patterns being located on another side of the diffuser member.
 5. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein portions of the diffuser member are more permeable than other portions of the diffuser member.
 6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of cells is more effective when the non-rigid fabric member expands due to receipt of an inflation gas therein.
 7. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the first cushion section has an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, and the internal passageway is proximate to the upper edge portion.
 8. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable cushion further comprises a second cushion section having a plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells each of which has an inlet opening for receipt of the inflation gas and the internal passageway is also formed in the second cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells and the diffuser member is configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells and the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the material used to form the second cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material; and the means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells is disposed proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells of the second cushion section.
 9. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the non-rigid fabric member is a woven non-rigid fabric tube and the woven non-rigid fabric tube is formed from a material that is more permeable than the first material forming the first cushion section.
 10. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein portions of the non-rigid fabric member are more permeable than other portions of the non-rigid fabric member, wherein fluid flow of the inflation gas to the plurality of inflatable cells is varied.
 11. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the diffuser member further comprises a rigid non-fabric portion and the inflatable cushion further comprises a second cushion section having a plurality of inflatable cells and the rigid non-fabric portion is the only means for supplying a portion of the inflation gas to the plurality of inflatable cells of the second cushion section.
 12. The inflatable cushion as in claim 11, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells is only a plurality of stitches through the first material of the first cushion section and the second cushion section, the plurality of stitches being arranged to provide a plurality of independent and discrete plurality of stitches.
 13. The inflatable cushion as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of stitches are arranged in a plurality of oval patterns.
 14. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells is a plurality of fabric portions sewn to an exterior surface of the first cushion section, wherein some of the inlet openings vary in size.
 15. The inflatable cushion as in claim 14, wherein loading of the loaded cell is caused by the impact of the object with the loaded cell and the impact causes the internal pressure of the loaded cell to increase higher than those of unloaded cells and wherein the predetermined effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.5 square inches and wherein the plurality of fabric portions are secured to the exterior surface of first cushion section by a plurality of independently and discretely located plurality of stitches through the first material of the first cushion section and the plurality of stitches are arranged in a plurality of curved patterns.
 16. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.5 square inches.
 17. An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells each of which having only an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells; a diffuser member disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is the main source of fluid flow into each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material of the diffuser member; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells, wherein the means for restricting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet opening of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells is a plurality of stitches independently and discretely applied through the first material of the first cushion section, and wherein only a portion of the plurality of stitches secures a plurality of fabric portions to an exterior surface of the first cushion section and wherein the effective flow area causes an inflated cell of one of the plurality of inflatable cells to have an increased internal pressure when it is impacted by an object and wherein the increased internal pressure will prevent the object from striking through the cell with the increased internal pressure and wherein the inflated cell has an internal pressure less than 60 kilopascals prior to its impact by the object.
 18. The inflatable cushion as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of fabric portions are independent and discretely located and vary in size, and each of the inlet openings vary in size.
 19. The inflatable cushion as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of fabric portions are the same size and each of the inlet openings vary in size.
 20. The inflatable cushion as in claim 17, wherein some of the inlet openings and some of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells vary in size wherein portions of the non-rigid fabric member that provides fluid flow to each inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells varies in size such that varying flow rates into the plurality of cells is provided when the inflation gas passes through the permeable material.
 21. The inflatable cushion as in claim 17, wherein the first material is less permeable than the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member.
 22. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising: a side curtain inflatable cushion comprising: a first cushion section formed from a first material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells each of which only having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells; a diffuser member disposed in the internal passageway, the diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells, wherein the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the first cushion section and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is the main source of fluid flow into each of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material; and means for restricting fluid flow between each of the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of an inlet opening of each of the plurality of inflatable cells such that a predetermined effective flow area is provided between a loaded cell of anyone of the plurality of inflatable cells and the remaining plurality of inflatable cells; and an inflator for providing the inflation gas, the inflator being fluidly coupled to the diffuser member and wherein the effective flow area causes an inflated cell of one of the plurality of separate substantially isolated inflatable cells to have an increased internal pressure when it is impacted by an object and wherein the increased internal pressure will prevent the object from striking through the cell with the increased internal pressure and wherein the inflated cell has an internal pressure less than 60 kilopascals prior to its impact by the object.
 23. A method of inflating an inflatable cushion, the method comprising: controlling the flow rate of an inflation gas into the inflatable cushion by limiting an amount of surface area between an exterior surface of a non-rigid fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of an internal passageway formed in the inflatable cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of a plurality of separate inflatable cells only via an inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the inflatable cushion being formed from a first material and the diffuser member consists essentially of a non-rigid fabric member formed from a permeable material, the non-rigid fabric member is independent of the first material used to form the inflatable cushion and the permeable material of the non-rigid fabric member is the main source of fluid flow into the inlet openings of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that the inflation gas must pass through the permeable material, wherein the amount of surface area between the exterior surface of the non-rigid fabric diffuser member and the interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells is limited by applying a plurality of stitches through a first wall member and a second wall member of the inflatable cushion in order to secure the first wall member to the second wall member; and restricting fluid flow between each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between the exterior surface of the non-rigid fabric diffuser member and the interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells such that a predetermined effective flow area is provided between a loaded cell of anyone of the plurality of separate inflatable cells and the remaining plurality of separate inflatable cells and wherein the effective flow area causes an inflated cell of one of the plurality of inflatable cells to have an increased internal pressure when it is impacted by an object and wherein the increased internal pressure will prevent the object from striking through the cell with the increased internal pressure and wherein the inflated cell has an internal pressure less than 60 kilopascals prior to its impact by the object.
 24. The method as in claim 23, wherein the predetermined effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.5 square inches and wherein an operating pressure of the plurality of substantially isolated cells upon inflation by the inflation gas is about 20 to 40 kilopascals.
 25. The method as in claim 24, wherein the predetermined effective flow area is greater than 0 and less than 0.25 square inches. 